access>CINEMA is distributing Oíche Nollaig na mBan, which was named Best Irish Short at the 2016 OFFLine Film Festival, nationally.

Oíche Nollaig na mBan, from award-winning film writer and director Oonagh Kearney, was named the Best Irish Short by a jury at the 2016 OFFLine Film Festival, which included access>CINEMA's Programme Adviser Michael Ryan.

This was the third year of this initiative between OFFLine and access>CINEMA, which was established to promote the work of Irish filmmakers.

Oíche Nollaig na mBan was commissioned by the Arts Council and TG4 as part of a special season of the Irish-language documentary scheme Splanc!, which focussed on celebrating a centenary of art since 1916.

Inspired by Seán Ó Ríordáin’s well known poem, Oíche Nollaig na mBan aims to capture the powerful energy of the work in a highly visual way. Working with a schoolgirl choir and inter-generational cast of Cork-based female performers, the film pays tribute to Ó’Riórdáin’s language and radical vision of Women’s Christmas night.